Horseshoe.



PATENTED SEPT. 24, 1907.

G. L. REYNOLDS.

HORSESHOE.

APPLICATION Hmm ocT.1a, 1906.

FILM.

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GEORGE L. REYNOLDS, OF AUBURN, NEW YORK.

HORSESHOE.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 24, 1907.

Application filed October 13, 1906. Serial No. 338,705.

To all whom it may concern:

ABe it known that I, GEORGE L. REYNOLDS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident oi the city of Auburn, in the county of Cayuga and State oi New York, have invented a new and Improved Horseshoe, of which the following is a speciiication.

My invention relates to horse shoes which may be secured in position without the use of nails, and the object oi my improvement is-to provide a shoe which can be securely attached to the hooi by means of connections that will project the least possible distance from the surface of the hooi; and that when so attached, may be easily detached and which will not interfere with the proper natural expansion and growth oi the hoof.

My invention consists of a main portion or shoe proper, toe and side pieces, springs secured in depressions in the upper surface oi the shoe, and the hooks or claws engaged to the outer ends of the springs and adapted to engage in slots cut into the outer surface of the hooi ior the purpose of securing the shoe to the hooi.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, oi which Figure I is a plan oi the shoe and astening devices. Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line A-A oi Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one ofthe springs. Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line B-B in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a similar cross section showing a modified form of spring shank.

Similar reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings, the body oi' the shoe l, is provided with a toe calk 2 and heel calks 3. Projecting from the upper side are toe pieces 4, and side pieces 5 which are adapted to fit small grooves cut into the lower edge oi the horn of the hooi to prevent the shoe from slipping laterally on the hooi. The upper surface of the shoe is formed with depressions in which are seated the front spring 6 and the side springs 7. When the shoe is formed, which may be either by drop-forging or molding, pins 8 are formed in these depressions in the shoe. The springs are provided with countersunk apertures through which these pins 8 are adapted to extend, when the springs are in proper position. The pins are riveted down, thus preventing any movement of the springs at those points. As will be seen in Fig. 3, the free ends oi the arms oi the springs are provided with small ridges 9. Because oi this construction, when the pins are headed down tightly to position, the springs will be under considerable tension. The springs are provided at the outer ends with downwardly projecting shoulders or ribs l0; which are engaged by the hooks or claws 1I, as shown in Fig. 2.

To secure the shoe to the hooi, the hooks Il are put in position, the shoe placed against the bottom of the hoof and grooves cut into the horn oi the hooi. The lower ends of the hooks ll, and with them the dow11- turned portions l0 of the springs 6 and 7, are raised by means oi any desirable tool being pushed in beneath the lower end of the hooks ll into the opening l2. The outer ends oi the springs being raised in this manner, the upper ends oi the hooks ll will engage in the slots cut in the horn of the hooi for their reception. The resilience of the spring will hold the shoe against the hooi as soon as all three hooks ll properly engage in their respective slots. The downward pull oi the hook Il caused by the resilience o the spring 6 is more than equal to the entire holding power of the usual eight nails now employed to secure a shoe to a horses hoof. The positions of the rear hooksll are such that they will exert their power iar to the rear of where nails can be driven. This gives a great gain in leverage and permits the shoe being held more securely than by the use oi nails. In Fig. 5, a modified manner for fastening the end of the spring is shown. The sides of the spring 16 are beveled and the material of the shoe 17 immediately adjacent to the spring is swaged down over the beveled portion, and thus secures it iirmly in position. Any other desirable manner of securing the springs 6 in position, maybe employed. The advantage of this construction appears more clearly when it is considered that nails are usually driven so as to separate the longitudinal iibers of the horn`ot` the hoof and therefore must be clenched to keep them from pulling out. With my improved construction, a large base area is taken advantage of and the tension oi the springs insures. a permanent connection between the hoof and the shoe. To remove the shoe, it is only necessary to lift up the outer ends of the springs and their hooks 1l so as to disengage the hooks from the hooi.

Having now explained my improvement, whatV I claim as my invention and desire to secure by'Letters Patent is,-

l. A horse shoe formed with recesses, springs secured in these recesses, and hooks in engagement with these springs, which hooks are adapted to secure the shoe to the hoot' ot' a horse.

2. A horse shoe formed with recesses, springs having their ends fastened in these recesses and provided with downwardly projecting hooks at their middle portions, and claws adapted to engage grooves in the hoof of the horse and carried by these downward projecting hooks on the springs.

3. A horse shoe formed with sets of grooves, springs ment with the springs, which'hooks are adapted to sec'ure 16 fitting in said grooves, and having their ends secured to the shoe to the hoof. sitid shoe, claws in engagement with .the middle portions In testimony whereof I have signed my name in the of said springs and adapted to secure the shoe to the hoof presence of two subscribing Witnesses. of a horse, said springs being formed with u ridge at the lower side of each end. Y G' L REYNOLDS 4, A horse shoe formed with toe and side pieces to Witnesses: prevent the shoe moving laterally when secured to the CHAs. T. WHELAN,

hoof, springs secured to said shoe; and hooks in engage- MARION T. BOLGER. 

